UWS fire (possibly arson) burned out my apartment building

[Kade]

Anyone hear about that fire on 107 and Amsterdam early Thursday morning??? That was MY building.

Here is the link (click on the video link if you want to see me and my two roommates, I'm the one in the black t-shirt and frizzy hair):

http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_251065425.html



My roommate comes tearing into my room at 3am screaming "the building is on fire!!!" The next thing I remember I'm on my hands and knees in the living room gagging on the black smoke pouring down the hall way. The guy who is railroaded behind my room is blind without his glasses, so I'm calling out to make sure he is still behind me. Mean while, the roommate who woke me up is standing up in the smoke attempting to get the pad lock off the window grate that leads to the fire escape. No joke, she saved our lives since she was able to do it under 30 sec. All three of us charged down the fire escape. We were on the top floor (6th) and on our way down we can see smoke billowing out of every window. There were so many elderly people who couldn't get their windows open, that they and others had to bash them through to get out. I and my virtually blind roommate helped one elderly gentleman who could clear the sill onto the fire escape. Upon reaching the bottom level of the escape, come to find out that for some reason we are virtually the first ones there.....from the 6th floor, we beat most of the other tenants down out of their apartments (thanks again to my one roommate and being young enough to navigate those crazy fire escapes).

Things didn't get REALLY scary until we realized that a lady had froze just above the ladder to the ground. She was hysterical and wouldn't/ couldn't move out of the way. I look up and there are three floors levels of fire escape jammed with tenants who are now screaming for help and attempting to push there way down the escape. finally a fireman gets a ladder to the first level and drags the scared lady out of the way letting the rest of us down.

Did I mention I was only wearing my boxer shorts at the time...yea, last time I sleep almost nude. Luckily some random guy gave me a t-shirt when I got on the street.

4 days later I still haven't been allowed back up to get my things (although NYFD, who are the nicest, kindest, smartest people I've ever met, were generous enough to go up and retrieve my wallet, cell phone, laptop, and bills to prove my residency to the Red Cross) and no one knows when that will happen. Apparently the 1st and 2nd floor stairs are gone and all the remaining floor sustained heavy smoke and water damage. The news in the neighborhood is that an ex-tenant had a beef with the landlord and started the fire with white gas....just rumors though.

The silver lining: I had renter's insurance and will be covered for everything lost or damaged. I'm the lucky one though, a few people didn't even make it out with their lives, let alone the resources to start over as fast as I have. My biggest challenge right now is finding a new place to live. Anyone know of anything an AmeriCorps can afford (less than $800 a month)????

-Kade

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Glad you and yours made it out safe and sound.

Check out Craigs list for apt or share.

[Kade]

2. Thanks for the tip

My roommates and I have been scouring CL like crazy. All three of us want to live together since we know we like eachother (I've learned that good roommates are almost as important as a good apartment). We had such a good deal in our last place, we are scared we won't find anything in our price range (poor students and AmeriCorps). Going along with the whole arson thing, aparently ownership of the building changed hands like 2 weeks ago. Now I'm not a conspiracy guy, but initially cheap rent + new owner + arson = easy way to get tenants out in order to renovate.

-Kade

[BrklynLiberal]

4. You are right...that does sound MIGHTY suspicious.

Would you consider Brooklyn?
Try looking in some local neighborhood papers, food co-ops, community book shops, coffee houses etc where people hang notices.

Also, check out some college offices. Sometimes they advertise there for apts for students.

[Fridays Child]

3. Thank your lucky stars, you're okay!

Please keep us posted on everything, as you get your life back together. :hug:

[Kade]

5. Will do

Now that I have regained internet access (thank you columbia Univ. for your oh-so easy to access computer labs), I'm back to my DU surfing ways. I should be fine in the long run since my insurance should allow me to buy clothes, etc. No telling how long that will take though.

I just moved out to NYC 3 weeks ago and I was sooooo excited about this apartment too (it had alot of character, the kind only a pre-war Manhattan building can).

I have discovered though, that whoever said New Yorkers were mean, was DEAD WRONG. The minute I got off that fire escape I got handed a t-shirt and then a lady who I had never met before in my life told me and my two roommates that we could sleep in her apartment that night if we wanted. Never again will I let someone try and tell me New Yorkers are mean....Big Apple was and continues to be there for me in my hour of need, and thats all that counts!!!

-Kade

[Fridays Child]

7. That's a great story and it can't be repeated enough.

New Yorkers are good people!

[DarthDem]

6. Glad You're Okay

Geez, what a frightening story. Way to go helping the other tenants - - that's the kind of courage we'd all like to think we can show in a crisis. By the way, people who say New York City residents are mean are largely know-nothings who have had very, very limited experiences there. It's actually quite the opposite - - especially when times get tough.

Good luck with the recovery and new apartment search - - CL is definitely the way to go.

[Drum]

8. Damn, glad you're ok...

I live on CPW around the corner from 107...so sorry to hear this!

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

9. shit Kade! this blows.

have you found a place to live yet?

[Kade]

10. Tell me about it....

Haven't found a place yet. Stuff on the UWS is pretty spendy. Craigslist is a beautiful thing though.

Here is the crazy thing about my place though....it was owned by this guy Baruch Singer. I googled his name and HOLY CRAP....apparently this guy is like one of the worst slum lords in Manhattan!!! You should see all the dirt that is written about this sleeze ball!!

-Kade